DOVER, Del. ? Delaware State University announced the hiring of Derek A. Carter as its new Athletics Director to oversee the institution’s 18 intercollegiate sports programs.

Mr. Carter has served since July 2003 as the athletics director for Bowie State University in Bowie, Md. where he had oversight responsibility for that institution’s 13 athletics programs. In that post he coordinated aggressive fundraising efforts, created a strategic plan for the department and also served as a sports management instructor.

Prior to his Bowie years, he served from 2001-2003 as the athletics director for Virginia State University in Petersburg, Va.. He also had two stints at Virginia Tech University where from 2000-2001 he was the director of the athletics program’s Monogram Club, which is designed to foster fellowship among student-athletes. From 1994-1998, Mr. Carter was an assistant athletics director at Virginia Tech in posts that focused on spring sports, compliance and student life.

Sandwiched in between his Virginia Tech stints, Mr. Carter served as the director of athletics at Patrick Henry High School in Ashland, Va. from 1998 to 2000.

The new athletics director ? who will officially begin his DSU post in early May ? said he is grateful for the opportunity to provide executive leadership for DSU’s intercollegiate sports programs. “I am excited with the opportunity and challenge to join DSU and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference,” Mr. Carter said. “I am looking forward to all the great things that will take place.”

Amir Mohammadi, DSU vice president of Finance and Administration and the chair of the University’s AD Search Committee, said Mr. Carter was the top choice among 65 candidates that DSU considered. “He has a wealth of experience at Division I and Division II, and DSU is very fortunate to attract and hire an athletics director with such a wealth of experience,” Mr. Mohammadi said.

Mr. Carter will take over a DSU Department of Athletics that features 18 intercollegiate Hornet sports programs ? men’s football, baseball and wrestling; women’s bowling, equestrian, softball, volleyball and soccer; as well as men’s and women’s basketball, indoor and outdoor track and field, cross country and tennis.

Mr. Carter has a 1985 Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing Education from Virginia Tech University and a 1991 Master of Science in Sports Management from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. He is also a 1997 graduate from the Sports Management Institute’s “The Executive Program.”

Born and raised in Washington, D.C., the University’s new athletics director followed his football and basketball years at DeMatha High School in Hyattsville, Md. by starring at cornerback for the Virginia Tech football team. Mr. Carter was a defensive teammate of former Buffalo Bills defensive lineman and a 2009 NFL Hall of Fame inductee Bruce Smith.

As a result of his defensive exploits, Mr. Carter was named to the 1980s Virginia Tech All-Decade Hokies’ Football Team. He also earned an opportunity to try out as a free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1985.

In becoming part of the DSU family, Mr. Carter is joined by his wife of 10 years, Karen, as well their two young sons ? Bryce, seven, and Cole, four.